It has Social, Emotional, Physical and Religious components
and this topic has been ignored for too long-Prof. Javed Akram
The course was conceived few years ago but was delayed
due to various reasons – Prof. Zaman Sheikh
CFMP starts Certificate Course in Reproductive & Sexual Health
Karachi: Reproductive and Sexual Health is the most misunderstood, misconceived subject which has a much wider scope with social, emotional, physical and religious components. Healthcare professionals needs to be equipped with highest standard of communication skills for sexual consultation to ensure patient satisfaction. This subject has been ignored for too long, doctors and patients both are reluctant to discuss it hence the quacks have been filling this gap with serious consequences affecting the quality of life of the patients. This was sated by Prof. Javed Akram, President of Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine while speaking at the inaugural session of the First 6th Month CME Accredited Hybrid Certificate Course in Reproductive and Sexual Health initiated by College of Family Medicine Pakistan. This is a joint academic collaboration between CFMP and few other professional specialty organizations including Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine, Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists’ of Pakistan, Pakistan Endocrine Society, Diabetic Association of Pakistan and Primary Care Diabetes Association.
Prof. Javed Akram, Prof. Zaman Sheikh, Prof. Abdus Basit, Dr. Shehla Naseem, Dr. Aisha Sheikh, Prof. Ali Asghar, Prof. Shabeen Naz Masood, Prof. Saeed Mahar, Prof. Zeeshan, Prof. Jamil Ahmad, photograph with Dr. Amin Kharadi Chairman College of Family Medicine Pakistan at the inaugural session of Certificate Course in Reproductive Sexual Health.
Time has come that we Prof. Javed Akram further stated get away from misconceptions. We must understand the patient. Almost 50% of adult people below the age of twenty-four years suffer from some sort of sexual disorders, sexual transmitted diseases are common in many and it has a long lasting consequences, He further opined that religions leaders should be taken on board and made part of such initiatives. We have to talk about it. Students are confused about sexual health and reproductive health. We need to satisfy the patients for which healthcare professionals need to educate themselves. Once we understand the patient needs, they will open up. Sexual consultations are very challenging for which we must keep ourselves update with latest developments in this discipline, he remarked.
Earlier Prof. Zaman Sheikh Course Director who initiated this project with other colleagues in his welcome address thanked the colleagues in different professional specialty organizations for their collaboration in this academic activity. We thought about starting this course many years ago but had to postpone it for many reasons. This is a six month course with twenty-four modules and various related topics will be covered during the forty-eight lectures delivered by eminent healthcare professionals from different specialties in Pakistan besides a few eminent speakers from overseas. We as healthcare providers are shy in asking questions to the patient related to sexual health and our failure to do so pushes them to the quacks.
President of IDF Peter Schwarz from Germany in his recorded message displayed on this occasion remarked that this is a very sensitive topic in medicine. It has impact on quality of life of the patients. Vast majority of people suffering from diabetes are at risk of suffering from sexual disorders like erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, vaginal distress, pain during intercourse. Healthcare professionals need to adopt proactive approach to discuss this topic. In endocrine care there is a lot of do and lot to learn related to these disorders. The patients should have no fears to talk to you on this topic.
Dr. Shehla Naseem from CFMP who moderated the session giving details of the course stated that our objective is to educate family physicians. Credit for this course goes to Prof. Zaman Sheikh. There will be two lectures between 2.00 to 4.00 PM on every Sunday followed by discussion. On completion of the course the participants will get a certificate. She clarified that this course is not meant for academic promotions but to empower the Family Physicians to manage these sexual disorders with confidence. They must ensure privacy during the consultation.
Dr. Aisha Sheikh President of Pakistan Endocrine Society said that during our endocrine society meetings we always discuss these issues. Involvement of so many professional specialty organizations in this course brings credibility. We have ignored this topic for too long. There should be proper counselling sessions for the patients and Pakistan Endocrine Society will take care of the endocrine aspects of the course.
Prof. Ali Asghar also from Pakistan Endocrine Society commended the collaborative work by different organizations. It will help improve knowledge of family physicians. The course is well designed and covers all the important aspects of reproductive sexual health. We have only two hundred endocrinologists in the country and they were not enough keeping in view the burden of these disorders and the number of people suffering from this. Hence, empowering the family physicians was the ideal approach, he stated.
Dr. Riasat Ali President PCDA and Dr. Asima Khan from Primary Care Diabetes Association also briefly addressed the gathering and commended the organizers for initiating this course. It is a significant step. We must include ethical aspects in the course, she added.
Prof. Shabeen Naz Masood representing the Society of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists of Pakistan stated that it was the need of the day. Healthcare professional must discuss sexual health with the patient and just don’t confine to talking about reproductive health, she remarked.
A noted Sexologist from India Dr. Deepak in his video message congratulated the organizers of the course. He pointed out that human emotions were the most important aspect. It has certain critical areas. Patients suffering from Diabetes and sexual disorders have early onset of coronary artery disease. We need to discuss the Bed room issues with the patients with confidence, ensuring confidentiality and privacy. We should carry wisdom form such sessions and implement it in our practice. We must listen to the patients. He laid stress on proper nutrition of the patients as good food is essential for healthcare. Drugs are for treatment of diseases. Life style modifications he further remarked plays a vital role in improving the quality of health of patients.
College of Family Medicine Pakistan in collaboration with various other professional specialty organizations has initiated a Certificate Course in Reproductive and Sexual Health for Family Physicians and other healthcare professionals. Picture shows various distinguished speakers addressing the participants in the inaugural session.
Prof. Abdus Basit from Diabetic Association of Pakistan in his address said that now four organizations from Pakistan are represented in the International Diabetes Federation. He also gave details of some new projects which they intend to initiate which relates to Diabetes and Depression, Diabetes and Tuberculosis from Indus Hospital Health Network. Majority of the Non-Communicable Diseases are discussed and first managed by the Primary Care Physicians. He laid emphasis on proper referral of patients from Primary Care Physians to Tertiary Care facilities and then referring them back to the primary care physicians. Indus Hospital Health Network he said has about one hundred primary healthcare facilities, twenty secondary care facilities and four tertiary care facilities.
We are trying to first implement this proper referral system and integrate it between these facilities as a pilot project. We also need to utilize the nurses and pharmacists effectively. We are planning to train Advance Nurse Practitioners to make use of this talent, he added.
Prof. Saeed Mahar said that it was a much needed course. It is important that we train and empower the primary care physicians. Almost about 50% of people suffering from diabetes have some sexual problems. Now drugs are also available within the country. He also reiterated that the patients must be referred back to the primary care physicians by the consultants.
Prof. Zeeshan said that due to non-specific symptoms patient continue to suffer. Prof. Jamil Ahmad remarked that we need to eliminate and take away the shyness from the doctors and the patients to discuss these issues.
Prof. Siarjudaullah Syed commending this initiative of starting this course pointed out that we must also look as the transgender issues. If this issue is identified early on, these people can be educated and equipped with some skills so that they can lead a dignified life otherwise it leads to crimes.
Dr. Amin Kharadi Chairman of College of Family Medicine in his address thanked all the professional specialty organization who are collaborating in this academic activity. The meeting was sponsored by Hilton Pharma.
